Bagus Kurniawan, Yogyakarta – An action opposing the arrival of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono that was being organised by the National Students Front (FMN) has ended in a clash. Dozens of students were in the middle of the action when police broke it up. Five students were arrested and police chased scores of others.

Students had been sitting in a group in front of the Beringharjo Market located some 200 metres from the Gedung Agung State Palace in Yogyakarta. The students were opposing fuel price increases, demanding affordable education for the people, calling for workers' wages to be increased and for the government to discontinue its relationship with foreign donor institutions.

Police broke up the demonstration after they had asked demonstrators to disband. Because they refused to leave the location of the action on Jalan Ahmad Yani – 100 metres from the state palace – police surrounded them then broke up the demonstration.

The students – who numbered less than police – scattered in confusion. Police then chased them as far as the Ramai Mall on Jalan Malioboro around 500 metres from the state palace. Police arrested at least five with one of them shouting "Overthrow SBY!". It is suspected that the student was intoxicated.

Based on information obtained by Detik.com, action coordinators Darda Sjahrizal and Herry were arrested together with three others and are currently being questioned by police. The five demonstrators were taken to the Yogyakarta municipal police headquarters on Jalan Reksobayan.

Police and TNI (Indonesian military) personnel closed off the area in and around the palace. Access from Jalan Malioboro to Jalan Ahmad was closed off and traffic redirected to roads around Malioboro. As of going to print, the opening ceremony of the Second International Junior Science Olympiad (IJSO) was underway at the palace.

[Translation by James Balowski compiled from two separate Detik.com reports.]